ASHLAND — The Arrows and Quakers will renew a long-dormant rivalry Friday night.
The last time New Philadelphia and Ashland played in a meaningful football game, Bob Quackenbush was the Arrows’ head coach, Jon Shoemaker was the quarterback and Ronald Reagan was the president.
The year was 1986 and Ashland was on its way to its seventh and final Cardinal Conference championship in the league’s final year of existence. The Arrows beat the Quakers 34-28 in Week 7 — and haven’t met since.
Fast forward 36 years and the Arrows and Quakers are again conference rivals, this time in the Ohio Cardinal Conference. The programs find themselves in very different places, however, as Ashland has won two in a row after a season-opening loss to Norwayne and New Philly has been shut out the past two weeks after a 7-2 win over Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in the opener.
New Philadelphia (1-2) at Ashland (2-1): The Quakers have scored just seven points all season and have been shut out the past two weeks. New Philly managed just 137 total yards in last week’s 21-0 loss to Wooster in the Ohio Cardinal Conference opener. Sophomore quarterback Keaton Fausel has begun to settle in under center and is a threat with his legs. Trevor Bean rushed for a team-best 45 yards on 16 carries against the Generals.
The Arrows had 392 yards of total offense in last week’s 34-16 win over Buckeye Valley. Running back Cayden Spotts rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, while quarterback Luke Bryant completed 12-of-22 passes for 172 yards and three TDs. Landon McFrederick caught six passes for 98 yards and a score. Parker Grissinger has a team-leading 38 tackles.
Lucas (2-1) at Mapleton (3-0): The Cubs rumbled for 205 yards on the ground while quarterback Andrew Smollen completed 5-of-12 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 42-14 win at Wynford. Andrew Fanello had a pair of TD receptions and also rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Graysen Jackson added a rushing TD, while Corbin Toms caught a touchdown pass.
The Mounties, who pushed Lucas in the opening round of the playoffs last fall, unloaded on previously unbeaten Rittman last week. Mapleton scored all of its points in the first half in the 59-19 win.
Mapleton is averaging a Firelands Conference-best 42.3 points a game and is off to its best start since going undefeated in the regular season in 1991. The Mounties rushed for 293 yards while limiting Rittman to negative-5 rushing yards. Quarterback and safety Kollin Cline did a little bit of everything for Mapleton, returning an interception 45 yards for a touchdown and taking a kickoff back 80 yards for another score. Kyle Sloter had an interception returns for a touchdown.
Loudonville (2-1) at Mount Gilead (2-1): The Redbirds are coming off an impressive 14-0 win over backyard rival Hillsdale. Loudonville limited the Falcons to 179 yards of total offense while rushing for 157 yards. Quarterback Matt Sprang completed 9-of-17 passes for 129 yards and rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter. Peyton Regan rushed for 81 yards, while Baylor Weiser scored on a 5 yard run in the fourth. Sprang is the top passer in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, completing 38-of-67 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns. Zach Frankford has 15 catches for 239 yards. Aiden Wolford leads the KMAC with four sacks, while Baylor Weiser ranks third with 27 tackles.
Mount Gilead pounded Elgin 42-6 last week and boasts two of the top four rushers in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference in Garret George and Mathew Bland. George has run for 534 yards and seven touchdowns on 53 carries, averaging a KMAC-best 10.1 yards per attempt. Bland has run for 411 yards and five TDs on 50 carries and has completed 14-of-34 passes for 278 yards and two TDs. Owen High has a conference-leading two interceptions and Ben Whitt has three sacks.
